PMDF-DIRSYNC uses LDIF (Lightweight Directory Interchange Format) files to exchange directory information. Native directory information is converted into a "raw" LDIF file via a PMDF-DIRSYNC channel such as a SYNC_LDAP or SYNC_LDIF channel, or via one of the standalone utilities such as PMDF DIRSYNC/CONVERT LDAP LDIF=file-spec(OpenVMS) or pmdf dirsync -convert LDAP LDIF=file-spec (unix and NT), sent to a central DIRBOT where it is cooked into a "canonical" LDIF file, various cooked LDIF files (arising from various directories) are compared and updates generated, and updated LDIF files are sent out to native directories to be applied to update those native directories. That is, the work of PMDF-DIRSYNC can be thought of as, in large part, the sending and manipulation of LDIF files.

In normal usage, all generation and direct manipulation of LDIF files is performed by PMDF-DIRSYNC, via standalone tools or via channels (particularly channel execution of recipe files). However, understanding the sorts of LDIF attributes that can appear in LDIF files is important in order to write or understand recipe files, particularly template statements. And if you do have a need to manually inspect LDIF files, it is nice to know that the LDIF file format itself is quite straightforward.